Rapinoe Brace Powers WNT to 3-1 World Cup Opening Win Over Australia

Christen Press Adds a Goal as USA Claims Top Spot After First Round of Group D Play

WNTJun 8, 2015

WINNIPEG, Canada (June 8, 2015) – The U.S. Women’s National Team opened Group D play at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup with a 3-1 win against Australia at Winnipeg Stadium.

Midfielder Megan Rapinoe scored two goals and forward Christen Press added one to propel the USA past the Matildas in its opening match of the tournament. Australia threatened frequently in the first half, but several world-class saves from U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo highlighted the first half.

The USA’s first came off a deflected shot from Rapinoe in the 12thminute, but speedy Australian striker Lisa de Vanna tied things up in the 27thminute. The USA attack came alive in the second half and the Americans dominated down the stretch with Press and Rapinoe scoring the game-winnner and clincher, respectively.

The goals were Rapinoe’s second and third in the World Cup after she scored against Colombia at the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany. Additionally, Rapinoe’s first tally of the night gave her her 30th international goal, making her the 13th U.S. female player to score 30 times and tally 30 assists. She currently has 31 goals and 32 assists.

In the other Group D match earlier in the day, Nigeria and Sweden played to an exciting 3-3 draw that saw Nigeria erase an 2-0 deficit in the second half and then equalize late in the game after the Swedes had made it 3-2. Following today’s matches, the USA sits in first place of Group D with three points, followed by Nigeria and Sweden with one apiece, and then Australia with zero.

The seventh edition of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup takes place from June 6-July 5 throughout Canada. The U.S. continues the tournament against Sweden June 12 in Winnipeg and then finishes Group D play against Nigeria on June 16 at BC Place in Vancouver. The USA, Nigeria and Sweden have competed in every edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup. Fans can follow in-game updates on Twitter (@ussoccer_wnt and @ussoccer_esp).

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Megan Rapinoe (Abby Wambach), 12th minute: Following a clearance from Julie Johnston that sailed from near the midfield near to the top of the penalty box, Abby Wambach jumped to get a slight touch on the ball and head it down to Megan Rapinoe, who collected it in traffic. She spun around as she controlled the ball, beating Australia’s Emily Van Egemond, before sending a right-footed blast that glanced off an Australia defender and skipped into the right corner from about 20 yards out. USA 1, AUS 0 (SEE GOAL)

AUS – Lisa de Vanna (Michelle Heyman), 27th minute: The Americans were a bit disorganized after defending a set piece and Australia capitalized. Michelle Heyman latched onto a re-serve inside the penalty area, and as two U.S. defenders closed on her, she played it square to Australia captain Lisa da Vanna. She hit her shot first-time just inside the right post on the ground to tie the match. USA 1, AUS 1

USA – Christen Press (Sydney Leroux), 61st minute: Hope Solo began the sequence with a goal kick that went to the midfield where Megan Rapinoe played extremely well to bring the ball down. Rapinoe attacked down the left with a couple of touches before passing it to Sydney Leroux down the left wing. Leroux streaked past her defender into the box, turning the corner before playing a perfect pass in the slot to Christen Press who sent a first-time shot with the inside of her right foot just inside the right post from eight yards. It was her first Women’s World Cup goal. USA 2, AUS 1 (SEE GOAL)

USA – Megan Rapinoe (Carli Lloyd), 78th minute: Carli Lloyd won the ball with a stretching interception in the midfield and passed it to Megan Rapinoe, who took off on the counter attack. As her defender backed away, Rapinoe kept dribbling into the penalty area and then struck a left-footed shot on the ground into the lower right corner to seal the game. USA 3, AUS 1 (SEE GOAL) (FINAL)

Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
USA – Hope Solo, 5th minute: Australiawas able to get around the U.S. defense on the left side and the ball was played back to Emily Van Egemond who fired through the legs of the closing Lauren Holiday, making Hope Solo’s save even more difficult. The U.S. ‘keeper flew powerfully to her left to get two hands on the ball and push it off the crossbar before it was cleared away.

USA – Hope Solo, 13th minute: Samantha Kerr got behind the U.S. defense and run under a chipped cross to send a hard volley on frame. Solo was once again up to the task, diving to her left to make a brilliant reaction save. (SEE SAVE)

USA – Hope Solo, 45th minute: On the last kick off the first half, Servet Unzular took a free kick that curved its way over the U.S. back line and skipped off the turf, but Solo was there once again to make a solid catch and hold near the right post.

USA – Becky Sauerbrunn, 50th minute: Samantha Kerr seemed to break through momentarily, and drove into the box to shoot, but U.S. defender Becky Sauerbrunn recovered to get a piece of the ball and force it over the end line.

Next on the Schedule: The U.S. WNT will continue Group D play at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup on Friday, June 12, against Sweden. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Winnipeg Stadium in Winnipeg, Canada.

With today's first goal, Megan Rapinoe scored her 30th career goal, making her the 13th U.S. female player to score 30 goals and tally 30 assists. She currently has 31 goals and 32 assists. The two goals were also her first tallies of 2015.

Press’ goal in the second half was her first in the World Cup. Leroux’s assist on Press’ goal was her first at a World Cup.

After tonight’s start, Hope Solo now has 171 caps with the USWNT, the second-most for a goalkeeper in U.S. history behind Brianna Scurry (173; 1994-2008.)

Solo has the most starts by a WNT goalkeeper with a 165, surpassing Scurry’s 159 (from 1994-2008). Solo is also in ninth place on the WNT’s all-time starts list surpassing Carla Overbeck (161 games from 1988-2000).

Solo got closer to becoming the all-time leader in wins for a goalkeeper in U.S. history, earning her 131st win. She is behind only Scurry who had 133.

Additional Notes:

The last time a U.S. player had two goals in a World Cup game was Abby Wambach in 2007 vs. Norway in the Third-Place match. The last time the feat was accomplished during group play it was also Wambach in 2007 against Sweden.

The WNT has now earned at least a point in each of its seven opening matches at a Women’s World Cup.

The USA is now 5-0-2 all-time in its Women’s World Cup openers, drawing China 3-3 in 1995 and North Korea 2-2 in 2011.

Defender Becky Sauerbrunn is the only player on the roster to start and play every game for the USA in 2015. She has played the most minutes (969) of anyone on the team.

Lloyd earned her 196th cap and could hit the 200 mark during the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She would become the 10th player in U.S. history to reach that mark and the fourth on the current roster. Christie Rampone, Wambach and Heather O’Reilly are the other three.

Alex Morgan saw her first minutes of action on the field for the USA since she last played against New Zealand on April 4 in St. Louis.